Jackie Robinson’s impact on baseball was felt immediately the moment
he stepped on the field for the Montreal Royals in their season opener
against the Jersey City Giants on April 18, 1946. In addition to all of
the social implications behind Robinson’s debut, his 4-for-5 performance
that included a home run, two bunt singles, and two runs scored by
causing Jersey City’s pitchers to balk, left an indelible mark on his
opposition.

Larry Miggins’ view of Robinson’s eye opening performance remains
vivid some sixty-seven years later. The 20-year-old Bronx, New York
native manned third base for Jersey City that day and had no trouble
recalling how the day’s events unfolded.

“I remember it well,” the 87-year-old Miggins said from his home in
Houston, Texas. “It was a full house, 45,000 fans. The place was
packed.”

“Most of the guys were known by somebody, but when it came to
Robinson nobody ever had seen him play,” Miggins said. “Our manager
Bruno Betzel said he saw during batting practice that Robinson was a
strong pull hitter. He said to me, ‘Miggins, you play him deep at third
base.’”

Following his coach’s orders, Miggins positioned himself as
instructed. During Robinson’s first two at-bats, the ball didn’t come
Miggins’ way, as he grounded out to shortstop his first time up, and
then hit a 335-foot home run down the left field line.

Expecting another powerful shot by Robinson, Miggins held his ground
behind the third base bag as Robinson approached for his third at-bat.

“Next time up, I’m playing back, deep behind third base,” said
Miggins. “He bunted and dropped one down. I could throw a ball through a
brick wall in those days, so I pick it up and fire to first base and it
was a real close play, safe. He could run too you know. He beat it
out.”

Robinson proceeded to hit a single to right-center field during his
fourth at-bat, which set the stage for Miggins to have another close
encounter with the Royals second baseman. He did not think that Robinson
would test him a second time with a bunt.

“Like an idiot, I’m playing him back at third base again the fifth
time up. He dropped another bunt down and beat it out,” said Miggins. It
was a lesson learned for the young infielder. “I gave him two hits that
day and he never bunted again on me because I played him even with the
bag from then on.”

Miggins went on to play parts of two seasons in the majors with the
St. Louis Cardinals in 1948 and 1952, but his involvement with
Robinson’s debut is one that he wears with a sense of pride and humor.

“They got him into the Hall of Fame and there he was, Rookie of the
Year, MVP, and a World Series Champ, all because of the great start I
gave him in baseball!” said a laughing Miggins. “I gave him two hits
opening day and he never stopped from there, he just kept going. I
always look back and that 4-for-5 opening day gave him a thrust for his
whole career.”